Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (S.S.B., M.K., S.M.B., A.N.A., L.S., J.N.R., A.M.).
School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (M.D.).
Stroke. 2023 Oct;54(10):2676-2687. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.043414. Epub 2023 Aug 30.
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and there is a paucity of therapeutic strategies that promote functional recovery after stroke. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has shown promising evidence as a tool to reduce infarct size in animal models of hyperacute stroke. In chronic stroke, tVNS paired with limb movements has been shown to enhance neurological recovery. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for tVNS in preclinical models and clinical trials in humans. We highlight the mechanistic pathways involved in the beneficial effects of tVNS. We critically evaluate the current gaps in knowledge and recommend the key areas of research required to translate tVNS into clinical practice in acute and chronic stroke.
缺血性脑卒中是导致残疾的主要原因，目前缺乏促进脑卒中后功能恢复的治疗策略。经皮迷走神经刺激（tVNS）已被证明是一种有希望的工具，可以减少超急性脑卒中动物模型中的梗死面积。在慢性脑卒中中，tVNS 与肢体运动相结合已被证明可以增强神经功能恢复。在这篇综述中，我们总结了 tVNS 在临床前模型和人体临床试验中的现有证据。我们强调了 tVNS 有益作用所涉及的机制途径。我们批判性地评估了目前知识上的差距，并建议为将 tVNS 转化为急性和慢性脑卒中的临床实践，需要研究的关键领域。
